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The planners in Taiwan struck me as realistic men.

They know that they must depend heavily on factors outside their own control.

First and foremost, they depend on the inhuman idiocies of the Communist regime.

On these they feel they can rely.

Secondly, they depend on America's `` moral cooperation '' when the crucial moment arrives.

They hope that if history vouchsafes the West another Budapest, we will receive the opportunity gladly.

I remarked jocularly to the President that the future of China would be far more certain if he would invite a planeload of selected American Liberals to Quemoy on an odd day.

He affected ( most properly ) not to understand my point.

But he -- and all of China -- wears the scars of American indecisiveness, and he knows what an uncertain ally we are.

We have been grand to Formosa itself -- lots of aid, and, most of the time, a policy of support for the offshore islands.

But our outlook has been, and continues to be, defensive.

A great deal depends on the crystallization of Mr. Kennedy's views on the world struggle.

The Free Chinese know that the situation on the Mainland is in flux, and are poised to strike.

There is not anywhere on the frontiers of freedom a more highly mobilized force for liberation.

The moment of truth is the moment of crisis.

During the slow buildup, the essence of a policy or a man is concealed under embroidered details, fine words, strutting gestures.

The crisis burns these suddenly away.

There the truth is, open to eyes that are willing to look.

The moment passes.

New self-deceiving rags are hurriedly tossed on the too-naked bones.